Strafford County's payroll grows: Fifteen earn more than $100,000 in total compensation

Friday

May 22, 2009 at 3:15 AMMay 22, 2009 at 10:02 AM

By AARON SANBORNasanbornfosters.com

DOVER — Increasing benefit costs continue to play a major role in the Strafford County payroll, which saw the number of employees making more than $100,000 in total compensation grow from nine in 2007 to 15 in 2008.

"Some of those people that just broke that range did so because of an increase in health insurance costs, which they share the cost in," said County Administrator Ray Bower.

Bower said county employees pay 20 percent of their insurance costs.

Bower provided the list of employees who earned wages and benefits from the county in 2008. The list ranks employees by total compensation, which includes salary, overtime; sick buyout, the county's contribution to Social Security, health, disability, life and dental insurance, retirement and longevity.

With $170,720.71, Bower took home the most in total compensation among county employees. He was followed by Tracy DiCicco, director of nursing at Riverside Rest Home, who took home $118,702.31.

The rest of the employees earning more than $100,000 in total compensation include Physical Therapy Director Michael Morse at $115,915.33; Riverside Rest Home Administrative Services Director Melody Jones at $115,307.63; House of Corrections Nursing Director Tracy Warren at $115,134.00; Finance Director Diane Legere at $113,925.56; House of Corrections Superintendent Warren Dowaliby at $113,857.15; County Attorney Thomas Velardi at $111,399.12; Correctional Nurse Dawn Dow $105,563.11; Staff Development Coordinator Daralyn Stewart at $103,476.96; Sheriff Deputy Paul Rowe at $103,457.93; Nurse Practioner Marybeth Georgakilas at $102,909.10; Correctional Captain of Security James Topham at $102,381.66; House of Corrections Captain Sidney Bird at $102,297.86 and Nursing Supervisor Janet Chabot at $101,624.65.

Warren, Dow, Rowe, Georgakilas, Topham, Bird, Chabot and Velardi were the employees who didn't earn more than $100,000 in total compensation last year.

Velardi was appointed county attorney in early 2008, replacing Janice Rundles, who took a position in the state Attorney General's Office. State law requires that Velardi's county attorney compensation be set by the county delegation.

County employees were given a 3 percent raise in base salary last year.

Bower said the county's overtime line didn't change much from last year. Nurses at the Riverside Rest Home and correctional officers at the jail accounted for the most overtime.

"That's not unusual in terms of overtime," Bower said, while noting the county has been dealing with a nationwide nursing shortage.

"On occasion there are benefits to using overtime, rather than hiring additional staff because of the cost of benefits," Bower said.

In addition to the nursing shortage, the county eliminated 41 positions in January when it presented its budget. Riverside Rest Home lost the most positions at 21.5, while the jail lost nine positions.

The county also has two correctional officers on military leave and three officers who soon will be, he said.

Moving forward, Bower said he doesn't expect these vacancies to have a significant impact on the overtime line.

"It might have a slight impact but we have adjusted our staffing levels to deal with these eliminated positions," he said.

After the first quarter of 2009, overtime hours at the nursing home are about where they were last year and less than they were last year at the jail, according to Bower.

Next year's payroll will also reflect the voluntary pay cuts of 37 employees, including Bower, who took a 5 percent pay cut. Bower sent a letter to county employees letting them know he was taking the pay cut to help with the budget in a difficult economic climate.

"It just basically said 'this is what I'm doing and you can join me if you want," he said. "Some people needed every nickel they were making and other were able to sacrifice a little, that's just the way it went."

Bower said he was both "thrilled" and "honored" that may people joined him by taking a pay cut.

"It's a tribute to the employees of the county," Bower said. "I think we pay fairly, but we certainly don't overpay."